Selective Mutism

Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder, in which children who speak normally in some situations are unable to speak in other situations where speech would commonly be expected (e.g., school). Effective treatment for Selective Mutism emphasizes parent involvement in the treatment, including teaching parents how to change the common anxiety cycle their children go through in not speaking by teaching skills adapted from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). It also often includes school consultation, working with teachers and school officials how to address Selective mutism.